Wayne State University today announced a new program open to high school students that guarantees advanced admission to WSU's School of Medicine along with four years of paid undergraduate tuition, four years of paid undergraduate room and board costs in university housing and four years of paid medical school tuition. The new program, Wayne Med-Direct, will admit 10 new students each year beginning summer 2016. The university is accepting applications from now until Jan. 15, 2016.
Wayne Med-Direct was developed in line with the university's mission to develop a pipeline of high quality students from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds who are also interested in studying health disparities.
"Attracting top-tier students with an interest in health disparities is important to the future of our School of Medicine," said WSU President M. Roy Wilson. "As we advance toward becoming a national hub for health disparities research, it is crucial for us to get future medical practitioners and clinical scientists committed to Wayne State University as soon as possible."
The only program of its kind in the state of Michigan, Wayne Med-Direct emphasizes mentoring and research by giving participants the opportunity to become part of the School of Medicine community during their undergraduate studies, leading to M.D. or combined M.D./Ph.D. degree programs at WSU.
Ambika Mathur, dean of Wayne State's Graduate School and one of the architects of Wayne Med-Direct, will help oversee the administration of specialized programming for the cohort to ensure they are equipped for success once they reach the School of Medicine.
"Incoming freshman who are admitted to the program will arrive on campus in the summer to participate in summer enrichment courses focused on chemistry, biology, physics and writing," said Mathur. "In addition to their early arrival on campus, Wayne Med-Direct cohorts will participate in seminars, workshops and hands-on research and clinical training in the School of Medicine throughout their undergraduate careers."
Other benefits students in the program will receive include free MCAT and GRE preparation, travel to relevant conferences and symposia, and access to cutting-edge research facilities such as the new $93-million Integrative Biosciences Center (IBio).
WSU will evaluate candidates through a holistic admission process. To be eligible for the program, candidates must have a minimum 3.5 GPA and 1340 SAT or 30 ACT score, be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, and be an incoming freshman. Preference will be given to students from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds who are also interested in studying health disparities.
Students can apply for admission to WSU using the university application and submit the additional Wayne Med-Direct application. For more information about the program and the application process, visit honors.wayne.edu.